Description

ABOUT THE ANTHOLOGY

This volume is an outcome of the UPLGYF Urban Policy & Local Governance Youth Fellowship, a rigorous, interdisciplinary training initiative organized by the IMPRI Center for Habitat, Urban and Regional Studies (CHURS). The book brings together a diverse collection of essays authored by fellows who participated in the program, representing a wide range of academic disciplines, regional contexts, and professional trajectories. These essays serve as intellectual reflections and critical engagements with contemporary urban challenges, approached from both theoretical and practical vantage points.

The anthology seeks to contribute meaningfully to academic and policy-oriented conversations on the governance of urban spaces, particularly in the context of emerging economies, rapidly urbanizing regions, and contested development paradigms. Drawing upon the immersive pedagogical framework of the fellowship, each contribution reflects a deep engagement with pressing urban issues such as sustainable planning, decentralized governance, housing and infrastructure inequalities, environmental justice, digital governance, and participatory democracy.

Collectively, the essays illustrate the intellectual curiosity, analytical capacities, and normative commitments of a new generation of urban scholars and practitioners. They highlight the importance of cross-disciplinary thinking, critical inquiry, and context-sensitive approaches in understanding the social, political, and ecological complexities of urban systems. Moreover, they offer original insights into the dynamics of urban transformation, informed by both global discourses and grounded local experiences.

Beyond serving as a record of scholarly engagement, this anthology aspires to function as a platform for emergent thought leadership in the field of urban studies and governance. It invites readers—including students, researchers, planners, administrators, and policymakers— to consider innovative and inclusive pathways toward urban development that is equitable, sustainable, and responsive to the diverse needs of urban residents. In this way, the book contributes not only to academic literature but also to the broader public and policy discourse on the future of urban life in the twenty-first century.